Norwich’s club-record signing has failed to add to his solitary goal scored on the opening day of a campaign blighted by a toe injury.

The 24-year-old has started both of the Canaries’ last two top flight games alongside Gary Hooper, but City’s goal return remains one of the lowest in the Premier League.

Norwich have scored 18 goals from 22 games, with former Celtic hitman Hooper topping the list with five goals since his arrival from Glasgow. Hughton knows City’s quest for Premier League survival rests on improving that tally, and van Wolfswinkel will inevitably remain the focus of attention after his big-money switch from Portugal.

“The money we paid will always mean there is pressure on him. We just have to get the formulas right,” said Hughton. “Possibly he can try to do too much in other areas of the field and maybe he has to be more selfish in the box, but what you have to remember with Ricky that right now if he had not had his injury problems he would be in full flow.

“He is a very confident young man who is used to scoring goals. He is playing in a different league and having three months out could not have helped a new striker.”

Hughton has complete faith in his twin spearhead to prove their worth over the remainder of the Premier League season.

“Of course it is a concern about the strikers. We want to be winning football matches but I know Ricky and Gary are working so hard,” he said. “Sometimes it can be a fortunate goal that sets them off on a run but if they are working hard and endeavouring to get in the right positions then as a manager you are always confident it will come for them. Yes, it has been disappointing for them because they are two lads used to scoring.”

Hughton insists he is willing to experiment to try and unlock the Canaries’ attacking potential after pairing his strikers together in recent games, whilst Wes Hoolahan and Luciano Becchio have earned brief cameos in recent weeks.

“To play both is a very difficult formation and not too many teams go with those out-and-out strikers,” said Hughton. “I am always conscious that I would like to play two up front, a midfield attacking schemer and two wide players who can tuck in and also score goals. “Unfortunately you can’t have all of that. I won’t play two up front every game as that is not right for every circumstance.”

You know the football's become a bit drab when people start discussing their album collections. I've never been a major fan of Kate Bush, I'm afraid. She always sounded as though she was about to take off in a slightly disturbing way. Her persona, of course being the complete Antithesis of a well know football manager.
Talking of shock treatment, I think both Waclor and Ricky might benefit from a brief connection to a wall socket. Rickie's obviously tried this before,; you can tell because his hair is still standing on end, and just for the record, if you'll pardon the pun Steely,, Nearly Dan kicked off with a half decent version of 'The Boston Rag' the other night. Next up is Suzanne Vega, followed by John Renbourn. Both play a mean guitar, but unfortunately cannot be counted on to deliver sound knowledge of football management tactics. The support act is apparently, Hugh Atonal,. Lord we beseech thee, please aid us in our hour of need. And no I'm not on drugs thank you very much NCFCchild.

Sit Ricky down and make him watch DVD's of the most successful strikers to play in the English top division , Lineker , Shearer , Henry , Suarez , Rush , Sharpe , Drogba , Hughes etc , etc . A mix of players that had differing styles and skills , not all blessed with dazzling skills but each and every one with the sound belief that it is they who will score . They all used their best attributes to the fullest , whether that was skill , strength , power or the ability to be in the right place at the right time . All were selfish , all were greedy , all were very good at hitting the target . All had differences in physique so either used bulk or guile . Ricky is obviously a very good player , he just needs to accept his situation and use his ability to his advantage . Start demanding more of those whose job it is to supply him , tell them what he needs and work hard to make it happen , and keep faith in himself . At times this season you could see his head drop and the confidence drain away , learn to fight Ricky-boy and the goals will come .

I really think RVW will come good,just hope its sooner rather than later.But sort out the tactics and get the injured players back we should be okay.Think hughton will be gone at end of season(fingers crossed) then we can move forward.Can anyone tell me why mike phelan has supposedly gone for loads of jobs but still un-employed ?

Mellow & El Dingo - Completely agree that we could do with mixing up the service to the front 2 (or 1) a bit more, and not just rely on high balls from wide. A few slotted, defence splitting passes to run onto would not go amiss!

Yes Chris, he (and Hooper) are having to do to much because your asking them to play within a system there not suited to. Having to come deeper, searching for the ball etc as otherwise they'd never see it apart from when its hoofed 1ft over there head for a centre back to mop up.

Wow people copying my posts from September. Cutting a long story short. I stumbled on three at the back by accident. My two full-backs were badly injured and we tried it and got stuffed at first. In fact it was four games before we won 5-1. When the players were use to the system it was a success and got us promotion. It served its time however as managers knew how to counter the system. In the same way that Hughton tries to counter an attacking full back like Baines. The system would mean we could have Hoolahan playing behind the front two, for those through balls. OTBC

Agree with Pepper and Goldie, RVW is a class act waiting to happen. I alway thought he would have played well (and learned a lot from) Grant Holt. Smalltownboy, I noticed Lambert reverting to the diamond against Liverpool and it looked quite effective. Of course any tactical formation is only effective until the opposition work out a counter, hence the need for variety. Finally Steely, you've got me there, which Kate?

RVW is a class player always getting into space, some of the others in the team could learn a lot from watching him. His chances of scoring goals are very limited with the poor service he gets. He is reduced to going back into his own half just to get a kick of the ball. Get some balls in the box and he will score. As things are he is like a sub.coming on because he sees so little of the ball he is always cold. FGS get rid of Emander.

It was interesting to see Lambert using the diamond formation recently against Liverpool and it seemed to work.
On another point i thought Becchio was more productive as a foil to Hooper than the swedish bloke

Agree with Pepper and Goldie, RVW is a class act waiting to happen. I alway thought he would have played well (and learned a lot from) Grant Holt. Smalltownboy, I noticed Lambert reverting to the diamond against Liverpool and it looked quite effective. Of course any tactical formation is only effective until the opposition work out a counter, hence the need for variety. Finally Steely, you've got me there, which Kate?

Not often I ever agree with hughton but he makes a point here. A midfield schemer is needed for 2 up front and as much as I love Wes including him next to fer or Johnson may leave us short of bite in the middle. if he wants wide players who score though then why get guttierez who never scores and Nathan 'can't shoot' Redmond

Exactly el dingo......I've been saying the same all along. Our only strategy at the moment appears to be high balls into the box from the wings; usually of poor quality too. Both strikers thrived at their previous clubs when fed quick through balls for them to run on to.

There is an answer to this problem and that is to try a three centre back approach with wing backs. One team could be Rudy, Martin, Bassong, Bennett, Olsson, Whittaker, Fer, Johnson, Hoolahan, Hooper & RVW. This would allow us to play with a five man defence when under pressure but would also allow for three correct footed players to supply balls in to the two strikers. I still think we need to look for a decent target man and centre back who would then enhance such a system but we already have the players to give it a go. Failing that we could play a 4,2,1,2 system with Wes or Howson when fit as the man in the hole, even Redmond could be tried there as his raw pace would frighten a lot of central defenders.

Bill ,I think the Brew has also seen the Dan tribute band in his local during the summer. Boston Rag is often played in my house and the track before that Razor Boy. One of my favourite tracks was Your Gold Teeth 2 from the album Katy Lied. They always used the creme a la creme of studio musicians. Anyway its quiz and chilli night for me on Saturday Bill.

RVW he needs to get in the gym and on the weights - get some upper body strength, he looks a 2nd tier european striker at best (e.g. championship, scottish prem, portugal league etc) which is why he ended up at Norwich and was not bought by Chelsea. Maybe if he does he might be more prepared for the premier next year.

We have to take a reality check on the Wolf and face facts that he is not cutting it... will he cut it , maybe if we wait long enough, but it's Now we need goals not next Christmas, all the time , the Man Who Knows Best play him, we're not scoring, we need goals now, we need some one to score, and the Wolf is not doing it, he's a luxury NCFC can't afford, put him in U21's, and let's see if can get practice scoring goals.

Brew then we have similar tastes. Although I doubt we were the only men with those thoughts. When I go to the keep fit they play modern music video's (if that's what they still call them). The girls are singing and gyrating with next to nothing on. Don't do anything for me. Give me Kate fully clothed any day.

Good point, TrevorKeith. We have got the players to try different systems and it would be good to keep the opposition guessing as we are far too predictable. I still think RVW will come good if he could only get that goal. It's a confidence thing, I'm sure. Having said that, I thought Becchio looked lively when he came on last Saturday and he linked up well with Hooper. With it being so tight at the bottom of the table, teams may need less than the usual number of points to stay up - hopefully.

When you watch RVW closely you can tell he has bags of quality. Some NCFC fans need to get off his back. He is a luxury Premier League striker,something we're not used to at this club! Put him in front of the Arsenal or Man City Midfield he would score for fun. I like him, just needs the right service...as does Hoops.

Have to agree with most posts on here tonight. The problem as I see it is that RVW is a bit lightweight, but he makes some very intelligent runs in the channels which would lead to better clear cut chances for him, but there isn't a midfielder currently in the team to supply him those kind of balls. Unfortunately for him and Hooper, both obvious goal scorers in a previous life, Hughton will never consider Wes, or any formation other than his pig headed insistence on playing cack handed wingers who can't put in a decent cross, midfielders who are not supposed to attack, or play any kind of ball that might just lead to a goal. It is almost as if his remit is to simply limp across the line with absolutely no intention of scoring any more than the requisite least number of goals possible,

I will agree that it is not much to show for half a season but two things stand out for RVW. His goal showed amazing reflexes to turn a mishit shot into something akin to a brilliant cross. Secondly his assist against Chelsea involved making John Terry look second rate in the air. However at the moment as he never gets the service, his purchase makes as much sense as a cave dweller owning a pair of curtains.

Would like to point out that Holty wasn't only a wash-out in CH's first season but in the Championship, too. Sub for Wigan mostly. Happy to eat my programme if the saintly Lambert (who left us because he knew...) turns him into the Holt we knew for three seasons when we were mostly not in the Prem.

Like your 3-5-2 idea Trevorkeith. I'd definitely be happy to see that. Hughton unfortunately would never be corrageous enough to try it though especially halfway through the season . A few people have mentioned it to me and I cant see a better solution

RvW seems to get into some very good goalscoring positions but is then either not seen or not found by his team-mates or he gets bushed off the ball by a defender. Obviously with better service he will get more chances and therefore more goals, but unfortunately he seems to be a bit too lightweight and not particularly fast. The top strikers in the Premier League tend to either be big and strong or lightning fast, but unfortunately RvW is currently neither. Unless he's going to develop some pace from somewhere, some work on the weights to improve his strength wouldn't do any harm.

If Hughton is looking for a reason for the failure of both Hooper and RVW, let him look no further than Grant Holt.
Top English born striker in the Premiership under Lambert. The following season, total also ran under Hughton. Major reason? Negative tactics, and a total absence of creative service to Holt. He was reduced to going wide or deep to seek out the ball. A born striker reduced to feeding off scraps. The current 2 are the same. No service, and a now lack of confidence. strikers feed off an almost arrogant confidence to succeed.
Hughtons tactics and coaching dont seem to offer either.
............We have a complete coaching staff of defenders. No attacking coach. The question has to be : Why not???

Not sure about RVW being lightweight, how does that apply to Suarez? He's so lightweight the wind keeps blowing him over. A quality striker will score given service. We've not seen RVW given enough service to know if he will score yet. As for the 3,5,2 idea, Hughton would probably want to play Olsen on the right and Whittaker on the left given his current approach!

Right I'll try again . He should watch other strikers from those that are playing now to those that have hung up their boots . Look at the differing styles , whether it be dazzling skills like Pele , Maradona , Platini etc or raw power like Hughes & Shearer to the subtle right place at the right time approach of Lineker , Rush , Gerd Muller etc . Find your place Ricky and if all else fails , ask your future father in law for Johann Cruyff's number or get hold of Marco Van Basten . The ability is there , find it and develop it . Oh and make it snappy please :-))